Haydock Placepot picks: Paul Kealy's perm for the £100k guaranteed pool on Saturday

There's nothing easy about Haydock's Placepot offering, and even the opening seven-runner Group 3 (1.15) is 4-1 the field.

Cicero's Gift wouldn't be that big if he hadn't finished last at Goodwood last time, but the ground was borderline firm that day, and even with drying conditions it won't be anything like it was there.

He's the one to beat, but there may be more to come from Prague, who was a bit keen in front in the same Goodwood race and may do better getting a lead at a decent gallop (which he ought to get from Sparks Fly) over a mile.

Six winners of the three-year-old 1m6f handicap (1.50) have come from the Melrose at York since 2011, so Master Builder, third there, is very much the one to beat.

Too Bossy For Us wasn't at his best there (eighth), but his second to subsequent Goodwood winner Align The Stars here in July gives him a solid chance.

Knightswood ought to make the frame with a clear run in the Old Borough Cup (2.25), while Dancing In Paris is really tough and has more to come after dotting up off his lower all-weather mark recently, and Oneforthegutter is being a little underrated after his Ebor third.

In the sprint handicap (3.00), Shagraan got going a little too late at York last time but still has plenty of upside, while Jumbeau is a filly in good form and Night On Earth is an outsider capable of outrunning his odds after winning so easily last time, as well as missing a much easier race at Goodwood earlier in the week.

It'll be three in the Sprint Cup (3.35) as well, with main bets Swingalong and Annaf joined by Bucanero Fuerte, who is officially the best horse in the race (albeit on juvenile form) and gives us one on the far side just in case that is favoured.

With only two of Charlie Appleby's last 15 runners finishing out the first three (both were fourth, nine were in the first two), it's banker time in the last with Age Of Gold, who so nearly landed a big-field nursery at York last time.

Haydock Placepot perm

1.15
1 Cicero's Gift
3 Prague

1.50
2 Too Bossy For Us
6 Master Builder

2.25
9 Oneforthegutter
10 Knightswood
11 Dancing In Paris

3.00
1 Shagraan
8 Jumbeau
10 Night On Earth

3.35
1 Annaf
7 Bucanero Fuerte
13 Swingalong

4.07
1 Age Of Gold

2x2x3x3x3x1 = 108 lines

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